Lin Zifu immediately knelt down, kowtowed and replied: "How do you treat a villain, sir? No one in this family is watching!"
"Okay! I order you to protect the eldest grandma, aunt and two girls, the eldest mistress and Shiro, and go with the eldest master's fleet to Nanchang. When you arrive in Nanchang, if you need anything, you can go see Xie Pu, who is the same year as mine. I will meet you later I’ll write a letter for you to take with you.”
Lin Zifu kowtowed again, saying that he would never let him down and would protect his family. Li Yan then turned around and looked at the whole family:
"Sanlang led the troops back to the county to fight against the thieves. As a judge, I have the obligation to assist the county magistrate. Even though I can't hold a sword and a shield, I can still help coordinate the army's food and clothing. So I and Zhu'er stayed in the city."
Grandma Shu cried again. Mrs. Cui is the daughter of a criminal official. She knows that this is a country's rule and it is not easy to persuade her. She looked at the crowd and said:
"That being the case, I have here a hundred and thirty taels of silver banknotes that I have saved for my master to reward soldiers and brave men."
As soon as she opened the door, others had to follow suit, so Grandma Shu donated one hundred and eighty taels. The eldest mistress Wang also took off a silver bracelet and two hairpin rings, and promised to send another fifty taels. The two girls I also collected some jewelry and a dozen taels.
At this time, Mrs. Wang took a step forward and said, "My husband is staying, and I am willing to follow you. Please give me your permission."
"Hey, please stop being like this." Li Yan waved his hand: "You have the blood and bones of my family in you."
Li Zhu also advised. But Wang insisted on staying, so the father and son had no choice but to agree. Then Li Yan asked everyone to go back and clean up, and rushed to the water gate with only Xiruan to meet Li Su.
It turned out that in order to "fish" Li Zhu out, Tang Shenzheng actually used the warships of the Jiangzhou patrol navy to escort three official ships to pick him up. When the Watergate guard saw him, he hurriedly reported to the county office. Mr. Fan sneered and waved his hands several times, saying, "Let him go!"
Just as he was feeling annoyed, a report suddenly came to the door, saying that two members of the Li family had come to pay a visit.
Mr. Fan came out in surprise and saw that it wasn't Li Yan and Li Zhu and his son? "Xianzhi (characterized by Li Yan), Wenzhou (characterized by Li Zhu), your father and son have not left?" He stepped forward in surprise and took their hands.
"Hey, a young man like Saburo knows how to protect Xiangzi, how can I and my son be left behind?"
Li Yan smiled awkwardly, and took out a bag from his arms and handed it over with both hands: "These are some jewelry and five hundred taels of silver and banknotes that the women in the family collected before leaving. They are dedicated to the county magistrates to recruit local heroes." .”
"Thank you, thank you so much!" Magistrate Fan hurriedly took it, handed it to the officials behind him, and then asked, "Everyone has left, and you two are the only ones left?"
"I also have a virtuous daughter-in-law accompanying me, who cooks and washes the food for the garrison."
"Hey, that's not the case, how can you let the lady of the people do this?" Mr. Fan chuckled and waved his hands, and then told them:
"Sanlang has sent someone to report the news to the east gate. He will go to Mian Mountain first to inspect the terrain and arrive in the afternoon. The team has already crossed the East River and will be temporarily stationed outside the south gate. You two will make do with some lunch here. Then let’s go together to greet him, okay?”
Mian Mountain, in the southeast of Yugan County, is like a drop-shaped gem guarding the three bridges leading to the city. From north to south, they are: Shangban Bridge from the north gate to the east, Yuting Bridge outside the east gate and the south gate. Outside the dry crossing bridge.
This mountain is not very high, only about twenty to thirty feet tall, but it occupies a large area. It is about three miles long and two miles wide at its widest point. It is roughly a shape of high in the south and low in the north, high in the east and low in the west.
The East River, that is, the remaining water, flows through the foot of the mountain on its east side. There are waterways connecting to Lake Biwa in the west and south. The width is about one-third to half of the East River. Only the north side is a large area of relatively open fields.
Lin Shihong, the leader of the rebel army in the late Sui Dynasty, probably realized its danger, so he set up a stronghold and garrisoned troops on the mountain.
The entire Mian Mountain is divided into four parts from south to north: upper mian, lower mian, mian back and orb platform.
The ruins of the rebel camp are in Shangmian, covering an area of about two hundred acres. The lower crown is surrounded by woods and a piece of flat land that could be used as a school ground. It is now a lush pasture.
There are many lakes and swamps in Mianbei, and some residents have gathered to cultivate and breed them. The main residential areas on Mianshan Mountain are concentrated in Mianbei and Baozhutai.
Now there are only ruins left in the ancient village. Fortunately, the original buildings mostly used stones to build the walls. Now the rubble is still there, and it can still be rebuilt after repairs.
New utilization.
Li Dan was very satisfied after seeing this place. Although the mountain is not high, it has physical beauty, trees and water sources. The nearby settlement can provide one to two hundred laborers, as well as countless stones.
"This place is great, we must occupy it!" Li Dan said.
He saw that the people around him calcined the limestone from the mountain, and then used the burned lime to plaster the walls of their houses.
"This way we can have a source of lime nearby, and then we can get sand and clay from the beach of the East River to make cement." He had long heard that the lime used in the city came from Mianshan, so he came here specially this time comfirmed.
"Burn the lime here in the village, then put it into a pottery urn, mix it, put it in a bamboo basket on a carriage, and spread it on a reed mat to transport it to the city." Li Dan said to Chen Sanwen while gesturing:
"When Xianfu's staff has finished drawing the map, you and Mr. Zhu will immediately start planning the location and scale of the cement plant. I will ask your brother to prepare the machine and send it directly to this mountain..."
He doesn't have the time to grind. Who knows when the thieves will lay siege to the city? So everything must be fast, only fast will not break!
"Don't forget the location of the quarry." Li Dan touched his upper lip with a short beard (he was not used to it yet) and said, "The camp can be guarded by a maximum of five hundred people. With the factories and workers, the wall may be a little tight. It’s too long, you have to choose according to your circumstances.”
"Who will be sent to guard?" Zhao Jingzi asked from behind.
"How about Douziwan?" Master Ba suggested.
"Okay!" Li Dan thought for a moment and nodded: "But he needs a deputy, called Xie Baozi to help him."
At this time, Zhong Siqi came over to remind Shi Chen that it was not long time ago to return to the city. "The yamen officer who came to deliver the letter said that Mr. Fan, the county lord, the third master of your house, and your brother Li Dalang are ready to greet you outside the east gate."
Li Dan laughed and said that since he has seniority, he should not wait too long. He left the staff behind and asked Xie Baozi to take some protection. The others immediately mounted their horses and carriages and headed for the east gate.
Mr. Fan wanted Li Dan to lead the team through the east gate, then go around and camp outside the south gate.
After hearing this, Li Dan knew that he wanted to use his small force to stabilize people's hearts, so he modified the original arrangement of the brigade going directly to the south gate, and a few leaders to follow him into the city from the east gate to pay a visit to the county magistrate.
The troops gathered by the Yuting Bridge and arranged their military appearance and appearance according to Li Dan's orders.
Some people with armor knew that they were going to the city to show off their troops, and they all excitedly helped each other to wear them. Many people bathed and washed their faces in the Yudai River, trying to wipe themselves clean and look more beautiful.
Others used scissors to trim the beards and hair of their comrades, trying their best to show the other's majesty.
The guns and spears that had been wrapped up to prevent the villagers from being frightened on the road were also exposed and polished again and again with a whetstone, as if they felt that they were not sharp enough. In short, everyone was very busy during this hour.
Li Dan rode up to the bridge, arousing cheers from the team. He glanced around his troops with a smile and asked, "Are you all ready? Can you show it to the girls in Yugan?"
"Ready!" The answer was followed by laughter.
"Okay! Brothers, there were only sixty people when I led the team out, but now we are back home, we have four hundred people! Moreover, Master Tongzhi has authorized me to recruit local volunteers. You will be able to recruit volunteers soon. Become a corps commander, chief, or sentinel commander!" There was cheering all around.
Li Dan excitedly spun Zao Liu'er in a circle, raised his right arm and waved vigorously: "Now that you are ready, mount your horse, line up, and enter the city!"
After passing the bulge in front of Yuting Bridge, you will reach Hualingang outside the city.
This place is full of low-lying waterways and swamps. There is only one road that can pass through it. Then it forks, go left to Nanguan, and go north to the Jiulong Bridge on the river. Three hundred steps across the Jiulong Bridge is the east end of Yugan County. Gate - Yufeng Gate.
This city gate is also the earliest existing city gate in Yugan. After subsequent reconstruction and expansion, it became the only city gate with a horse-blocking wall in the county.
The so-called horse-blocking wall is a wall connected to the city gate wall to cover the city gate. People must walk to the opening on its side to see the city gate clearly.
This kind of wall has certain military functions
, which can effectively protect the city gate from direct damage or blows. But it is different from Wengcheng in that it is not closed and does not have an arrow tower in front.
When Li Dan passed the southeast corner tower, he was spotted by the soldiers on guard. As soon as the guiding flag in front reached the corner of the horse blocking wall, he could already see the welcoming crowd pouring out of the entrance.
Seeing that there were more than just two or three people like the county magistrate, Li Danzheng was surprised when the crowd was still moving out. It looked like there were three or four hundred people. "Stop!" Li Dan quickly raised his hand to stop the team's progress.
The whole team stood still. Mao Zaidi, who was wearing leather armor, jumped off his horse nimbly and stepped forward to grab Zao Liu'er's bridle.
Zhong Siqi took a few steps forward and half-knelt, folded his hands, then Li Dan, who was covered in armor (with captured arms), dismounted, and then walked forward behind him.
Li Dan didn't wear a helmet, just wrapped his hair with a green scarf, and walked a few steps forward. Seven or eight steps away from the smiling Magistrate Fan, he clasped his fists and raised his hands before saying, "I can't salute because I'm in armor, but I hope all of you fellow countrymen will understand."
Then he gave a military salute to Mr. Fan and said loudly: "The deputy envoy of Raozhou Tuanlian, Li Danfeng of the Southern District, was sent by our colleague Zhao Chongbi to lead his troops to Yugan to assist in the defense.
This is an official document issued by Mr. Zhao, please read it. "As he said that, he handed over the document with both hands.
"Okay, okay, okay!" Mr. Fan beamed. Li Dan's style was not only impressive, but also gave him enough respect as a county magistrate. He was very satisfied.
Especially when he saw the team behind Li Dan, almost most of them were wearing armor and all of them were strong, which made him, a parent official, suddenly more courageous.
"There is no need to rush the official document. Sanlang has returned to the county. I feel much more at ease! Come, please Sanlang, no, please inspect all the elders in this city, and then lead the team into the city. Tonight, I will prepare water and wine at the county government office. Just wait for the wind to wash away the dust!"
Li Dan thanked the county magistrate first, and then met with his third uncle Li Yan. I met Li Zhu, and Li Zhu smiled from ear to ear looking at his dark and strong brother. Li Dan asked softly: "Why don't you see Erlang and the others, uncle?"
"I'll tell you in detail later." Li Zhu replied calmly.
Looking at his elder brother's expression carefully, Li Dan said nothing and stepped forward to meet Zhao Yi General Zhao Jintang again. When he left before, he was still a Baiding (common people without official status, commonly known as Baiding). Zhao Jintang had a title, so Li Dan wanted to salute him.
When he came back, Li Dan became an official. Even though Zhao Jintang had a title, he could only salute Li Dan equally, which made him feel a little uncomfortable. Li Dan also thought that Zhao Cheng had defected to the enemy, so he couldn't talk about it in front of the public, so he thought about it and just held it in and just exchanged greetings with him.
Further forward are the representatives of the country gentlemen. In the morning, Li Su and his family hurriedly boarded a boat and left the county. The gatekeepers at the water gate went all the way to the county government to report the news. There was a commotion in every house and shop from south to north.
Many big families were a little panicked when they heard the news. The excited young people yelled "shameless", while the elders were busy discussing whether the family should also leave the city and hide.
Fortunately, Mr. Fan sent a government official in time to notify Li Dan of his return with the troops, and asked every family to greet him outside the east gate in the afternoon and observe the military situation. Only then did he calm down the already floating hearts.
I met the representatives of each family one by one. At this time, the elder of the Liu family asked Li Dan how many people he had brought back. Li Dan replied four hundred. Everyone looked at each other and felt a little disappointed.
Seeing this, Xu Tong stepped forward and praised, "Although there are only four hundred people, there are thousands of troops. Sanlang is very good at leading troops!"
After he said this, everyone woke up and quickly echoed: "It's true, it's true. Thousands of thieves will become frightened when they see such a mighty song!"
Li Dan then smiled and said: "Second Uncle Xu is very accurate! Among the four hundred of us, even the groom has been a team leader.
As long as the county magistrate gives the order, we will immediately start recruiting village warriors, and we can pull out thousands of warriors in an instant. So don't worry, villagers, we hope that you will donate generously to support the soldiers to defend the city! "
"That's it, that's it!"
Everyone followed suit, but Li Dan felt that they were perfunctory, and he was secretly puzzled and unhappy. At this time, Xu Tong saw the signs and quickly smoothed things over:
"Will
Gentlemen, thank you for your hard work, I won’t go into details here. Mr. Fan, please hurry up and ask the governor to lead troops into the city so that you can set up camp and rest as soon as possible. "
This Xu Tong helped him speak twice. Li Dan couldn't help but feel good about him, and hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your consideration. In that case, Dan will go to the city first, and I will take the time to visit you all later."
